INLAND NAVIGATION.

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Ful objects, and had the spirit to hazard so great a part of his fortunein an undertaking worthy the pursuit of a prince, which, however, hasultimately proved highly profitable to himself, and beneficial to hiscountry. When the influence of exalted rank and large possessions isthus nobly and usefully exerted, they confer additional lustre on thepostestors, who then justly merit being ranked among the first citizensof the community.

His grace has the honour, as well as pleasure, of having first introducedinland navigation into this kingdom; the utility of which is so sensiblyknown and felt, that it is at length, to the profit and happiness of thiscountry, encouraged by the nobility and land owners in many of theinterior parts of the country. It would also be unpardonable to withholdthe praise so justly due to the penetration of this illustrious nobleman,for having called forth the hidden talents of a Brindley; talents, which,but for his grace, would have been utterly lost to his country.

In 1758 and 1759, his grace the duke of Bridgewater, after obtain-ing two acts of parliament for that purpose, projected, began, and exe-cuted, under the direction of his engineer, Mr. Brindley, his first canal,which was designed for conveying coals from a mine (or more properlya mountain) on his grace’s estate to Manchester, but has since been ap-plied to many other useful purposes of inland navigation. This canalbegins at a place called Worfley Mill, about seven computed miles fromManchester, where the duke has cut a basin capable of holding, notonly all his boats, but a great body of water which serves as a reservoir,or head of his navigation. The canal runs through a hill, by a subter-raneous passage, big enough for the admission of long flat-bottomedboats, which are towed by hand-rails on each side, near three quartersof a mile under ground to the coal-works. There the passage dividesinto two channels; one of which goes five hundred yards to the right,and the other as many yards to the left, and both may be continued atpleasure.

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